Happy New Year's Eve!!

Hyrum and I decided that we wanted to throw a new year's eve party for our kids. The kids were so excited when we told them that they got to stay up late and play games, eat lots of yummy treats and bring in the new year with mom and dad.

After we finished eating our delicious chinese food for dinner we started the party.

I found this great idea on Pinterest where the kids get to open an envelope with a different activity for each hour up until midnight. So, I came up with a few fun things that I thought the kids would like to do.

6:00pm Let's get the party started! Make some party hats!!

Our finished party hats!!

7:00 pm Let's dress up and have a DANCE party!

8:00pm  BATHTIME!! Time to make some BUBBLES!!

 Lyllee and Samantha wanted to take a bath upstairs while Andy and Madelyn took a bath downstairs.

We learned that filling up two bathtubs at the same time wasn't the greatest idea. Halfway through the girls lost hot water and were freezing! Lesson learned.

9:00 pm Snack time! Let's make a yummy treat for our family!

 

10:00 pm Let's put some PUZZLES together!

 

 She just couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. Sweet!

11:00 pm Resolutions!

MIDNIGHT!!!

After the kids were done writing their resolutions we sat down and watched the ball drop in New York. Lyllee and Andy were almost asleep when we told them it was time to go outside and make some noise! WE celebrated with noise makers and sparkling cider. Of course this woke them right up and they didn't want to go to bed after all that. Unfortunately for them, mom and dad were exhausted so they had to go to bed anyways. 

Happy New Year to you!!

A Taft Christmas

The Taft's have a big Christmas party every other year at the church. We have dinner, play games, exchange gifts and play music. We are so blessed to have so many musically inclined people in our family. Everyone of Hyrum's siblings plays an instrument. The kids love to help grandma Starli play her drums and cymbols. They spend a few minutes playing christmas music while everyone visits and enjoys the sweet music.

Christmas party with the Parkers

This year, my sister-in-law and I decided that we wanted talk to the kids about the really meaning of Christmas and show them that there is more to it than the presents and Santa Claus. So, we put together a little family home evening lesson about the symbols of Christmas.

Christmas Tree: Christmas trees are evergreen trees. They do not die in the winter, but stay green all year.  This is a symbol of eternal life. Christ made it possible for us to live forever in heaven after we die.

Christmas Tree Star and lights: Stars represent the new star that appeared when Christ was born.

Candles: Jesus said that He is the light of the world. He shows us the way to go and leads us with His light.

Candy Canes: This candy is made in the shape of a shepherd’s staff. The shepherds came to see baby Jesus. Christ is known as the good shepherd.

Red, White, and Green: Christmas colors are symbols of Jesus Christ. Red represents the blood of Christ. Green represents eternal life. White represents the purity of Christ (he was perfect).

Gift Giving: Gifts represent the gifts the wise men brought to the Christ child and the gift of the Savior that Heavenly Father gave the world.

 The kids really enjoyed learning about the different symbols of Christmas. I even learned a few things that I didn't know before. It was really nice to feel the spirit and focus on more than the just the gifts. 

 Grandma and Grandpa Parker have a special place in their heart for Lyllee.

 My sister Betsy and her husband Devyn.

 My little nephew Gavin was more interested in the ribbons on his gift. He is so cute.

 Lyllee and Abi were feeling pretty cool in their matching Monster High jammies!

 It is tradition every year for Nana to give the grand-kids pajamas. My kids love getting new pajamas!

 Andy and Collin were really stoked to get remote control cars!

 Matching scooters too!

 Dad was really excited to get a new game for the wii U.

 My brother Jeremy pulling  a cheesy grin. Such a goof ball.

 I got my little vacuum that was on my wish list. Let the cleaning commence! J/K

 We also managed to keep the kids attention long enough to put together a candy christmas train.

 Madi was a fan!

Uncle Hyrum and Emma chillin' on the couch.